Game Preview: Pelicans vs. Thunder - December 6, 2013

In the only matchup between these two Western Conference clubs prior to mid-April, the New Orleans Pelicans host the Oklahoma City Thunder on Friday, seeking a victory against one of the NBA’s premier teams. New Orleans would like nothing more than to enter the weekend and an unusually long break between games with a win over Oklahoma City, one of the league’s fastest-starting clubs. The Thunder began the 2013-14 regular season with 13 victories in their first 16 outings, including an eight-game winning streak.

Despite trading away supersub James Harden in 2012 and losing his replacement, Kevin Martin, during free agency of the past offseason, Oklahoma City has barely skipped a beat so far. The Thunder have already compiled victories against just about every formidable Western Conference rival, including San Antonio, Golden State and the Clippers.

The Thunder continue to be spearheaded by the potent scoring duo of Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook. Durant led the NBA in scoring average for three consecutive seasons, prior to Carmelo Anthony wresting away that title last season.

In a scheduling detail many NBA teams would consider a fortuitous break, New Orleans only plays Oklahoma City three times this season instead of the usual four. The Thunder and Pelicans won’t meet again until April 11, when New Orleans pays its only visit of 2013-14 to the Sooner State. Three days later, the Pelicans will host the Thunder in NOLA’s second-to-last game of the regular season.

Intriguing matchup:Point guard Jrue Holiday vs. Russell Westbrook

Two All-Star floor generals from 2013 go head-to-head in the Crescent City. Holiday and the Pelicans’ defense will try to keep Westbrook from putting up a big scoring game. Through the season’s first 15 contests, Westbrook was Oklahoma City’s second-leading scorer and tied with Durant in assists per game. Holiday ranked eighth in the NBA in assists through Dec. 3.

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